or 


rssued   April   28.    1!'"'.'. 


U.S.  DEPARTMENT  OF   AGRICULTURE, 

i;i  i;i   \r  OF  PLANT  [ND1  STRY    -Circular  No.  28. 
li.  T.  GALLOWAY,  Chief  of  Bureau. 


CLOVER-SEED   PRODUCTION    IX   THE 
WILLAMETTE  VALLEY,  OREGON. 


BY 


BYRON  HUNTER, 

A.SSISTAN1     AGRICULTURIST,    OFFICE    OF     FARM     MANAGEMENT. 


WASHINGTON  !  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OF'ICE  :   1909 


DOCUMENTS  PEP 


DEPOSITORY 


BUREAU  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY. 

Physiologist  and  Pathologist,  and  Chief  of  Bureau,  Beverly  T.  Galloway. 

Physiologist  and  Pathologist,  and    Assistant  Chief  of  Bureau,  Albert    P.  Woods. 

Laboratory  of  Plant  Pathology,  Erwin  F.  Smith,   Pathologist  in  Charge. 

Fruit  Disease  Investigations,  Merton  B.  Waite,  Pathologist  in  Charge. 

Investigations  in  Forest  Pathology,  Haven  Metcalf,  Pathologist  in  Charge. 

Cotton  and  Truck  Discuses  and  Plant  Disease  Survey,  William  A.  Orton,  Pathologist  in 
Charge. 

Pathological  Collections  and  Inspection  Work,  Flora  W.  Patterson,  Mycologist  in  Charge. 

Plant  Life  History  Investigations,  Walter  T.  Swingle,  Physiologist  in  Charge. 

Cotton  Breeding  Investigations,  Archibald  I>.  Shamel  and  Daniel  N.  Shoemaker,  Physiolo- 
gists in  Charge. 

Tobacco  Investigations,  Archibald  l>.  Shamel,  Wightman  W.  Garner,  and  Ernest  II. 
Mathewson,  in  Charge. 

Corn  Investigations,  Charles  P.   Hartley.  Physiologist  in  Charge. 

Alkali  and  Drought  Resistant  Plant  Breeding  Investigations,  Thomas  II.  Kearney.  Physi- 
ologist in  Charge. 

Soil  Bacteriology  and  Water  Purification  Investigations,  Karl  F.  Kellerman,  Physiologist 
in  Charge. 

Biononiic  Investigations  of  Tropical  and  Subtropical  Plants,  Orator  F.  Cook,  Bionomlst 
in  Charge. 

lhiiij  and  Poisonous  Plant  and  Tea  Culture  Investigations,  Rodney  II.  True,  Physiologist 
in   Charge. 

Physical  Laboratory,  Lyman  J.  Briggs,  Physicist  in  Charge. 

Agricultural  Technology,  Nathan  A.  Cobb,  Crop  Technologist  in  Charge. 

Taxonomie  and  Range  Investigations,  Frederick  V.  Coville,  Botanist  in  Charge. 

Farm    Management,  William  .1.   Spillman,  Agriculturist  in  Charge. 

Grain  Investigations,  Mark  Alfred  Carleton,  Cereallst  in  Charge. 

Arlington  Experimental  Farm  and  Horticultural  Investigations,  Lee  C.  Corbett,  Horticul- 
turist   in   Charge. 

Vegetable  Testing  (lindens,  William  W.  Tracy,  sr.,  Superintendent. 

Sugar-Beet  Investigations,  Charles  O.  Townsend,  Pathologist  in  Charge. 

Western    Agricultural  Extension,  Carl  S.  Scofield,  Agriculturist  in  Charge. 

Dry-Land  Agriculture  Investigations,  B.  Channing  Chilcott,  Agriculturist  in  charge. 

Pomological  Collections,  Gustavus  B.  Brackett,  Pomologist  in  Charge. 

Field  Investigations  in  Pomology,  William  A.  Taylor  and  G.  Harold  Powell,  Pomologists 
in  Charge. 

Experimental  Gardens  and  Grounds,  Edward  M.  Byrnes,  Superintendent. 

Foreign  Seal  ami  Plant  Introduction,  David  Fairchild.  Agricultural  Explorer  in  Charge. 

Forage  Crop  Investigations,  Charles  V.  Piper.  Agrostologist  in  Charge. 

Seed  Laboratory,  Edgar  Brown,  Botanist  in  charge. 

Grain  Standardisation,  John  D.  Shanahan,  Crop  Technologist  in  Charge. 

Subtropical   Garden,   Miami,   Fla.,   P.    .1.    Wester,    in    Charge. 

Plant  Introduction  Harden,  Chico,  Cal.,  W.  W.  Tracy,  jr..  Assistant    Botanist   in  Charge. 

South  Tarns  Garden,  Brownsville,  Tex.,  Edward  C.  Green,  Pomologist  in  Charge. 

Farmers'  Cooperative  Demonstration    Work,  Seaman  A.  Knapp,   Special  Agent   in  Charge. 

Seed  Distribution  (Directed  by  Chief  of  Bureau),  Lisle  Morrison,  Assistant  in  General 
Charge. 

Editor,  J.  E.  Rockwell. 
Chief  Clerk.  James  E.  Jones. 
[Cir.  28] 

2 


!:  r  I   160. 


CLOVER-SEED  PRODUCTION   l\"  THE  WIL 
LAMETTE  VALLEY,  OREGON. 


INTRODUCTION. 

When  first  broughl  into  cultivation,  the  -oils  of  tho  Willamette 
Valley  were  friable,  quite  easily  tilled,  and  productive.  For  forty  or 
iil'i\  years  the  cereal  crops  were  grown  almosl  exclusively.     A-  the 

soil  became  infested  with  \\ Is,  summer  fallowing  became  a  common 

practice.  This  system  of  tillage  and  the  continuous  growth  of  cereal 
crops  year  after  year  depleted  the  soil  of  much  of  its  vegetable  mat- 
ter ami  rendered  it  heavier,  more  lifeless,  and  more  difficult  to  work. 
When  this  condition  was  reached  the  productiveness  <d'  the  soil  was 
"•really  reduced  and  t lit*  exclusive  production  of  cereals  became  un- 
profitable. Farmers  turned  their  attention  to  the  growing  of  clover, 
but  they  found  it  difficult  to  gel  satisfactory  stands. 

Dr.  James  Withycombe,  in  Bulletin  No.  76  of  the  Oregon  Experi- 
ment Stat  ion.  say-  : 

Although  western  Oregon  is  so  well  adapted  to  the  growing  of  clover,  numer- 
ous  failures  are  annually   recorded.      In    fad    these   failures  were  so  general    in 

the  past  that  it  was  popularly  believed  clover  could  qoI  be  successfully  grown 
npon  the  ordinary  prairie  soils  of  the  valley. 

In  spite  of  this  belief,  however,  the  persistent  efforts  of  numerous 
farmers  in  different  parts  of  the  valley  and  the  work-  of  the  Oregon 
Experiment  Station  have  proved  it-  fallacy  and  gained  for  both 
red  and  alsike  clover  a  very  prominent  place  in  the  agriculture  of 
w  estern  <  Oregon. 

"  in  connection  with  the  study  of  problems  in  farm  management  many  impor- 
tant details  of  farm  practice  are  learned  by  the  men  in  charge  of  ihis  work. 
This  circular  sets  forth  in  detail  successful  farm  practice  in  growing  red  and 
alsike  clovers  as  seed  crops,  giving  soil  types  and  conditions  under  which  each 
is  grown,  methods  of  securing  stands,  and  rotations  used  in  growing  clover,  and 
ealls  special  attention  to  the  method  used  in  western  Oregon  of  pasturing  or 
clipping  clover  in  order  to  delaj  the  barvesl  and  thus  increase  the  yield  of 
seed.  This  paper  is  a  continuation  of  studies  on  commercial  seed  production 
from  ordinary  farm  crops,  of  which  Bulletin  No.  100,  Pari  VI,  of  this  Bureau, 
bj  B.  a.  Oakley,  on  Orchard  Grass,  is  the  initial  number. — B.  T.  Galloway, 
Physiologist  and  Pathologist,  and  Chief  <>j  Bureau, 

[Cir.  28]  3 


4       CLOVER  SEED  PRODUCTION  IN  WILLAMETTE  VALLEY. 

At  first  clover  was  grown  for  hay  and  pasture.  Seed  production  in 
a  commercial  way  did  not  begin  until  about  six  or  seven  years  ago. 
The  quality  of  seed  now  produced  is  excellent.  The  seed  is  large, 
nicely  colored,  and  of  good  vitality.  The  yield  of  seed,  as  noted 
elsewhere,  is  good  and  its  production  has  steadily  increased  until  one 
may  now  see  in  many  localities  the  clover  huller  making  its  neighbor- 
hood run  instead  of  the  thrashing  machine  of  former  years.  Not 
only  is  clover  a  very  profitable  hay  and  seed  crop  but  in  conjunction 
with  live-stock  production  it  is  having  a  marked  influence  in  building 
up  the  fertility  of  the  soils  that  were  so  long  used  for  the  exclusive 
production  of  wheat  and  oats, 

TYPES   OF   SOILS  IN   THE   WILLAMETTE   VALLEY. 

The  purpose  of  the  discussion  of  types  of  soils  given  herewith  is 
to  point  out  the  soil  conditions  under  which  these  two  clovers,  red 
and  alsike,  are  grown.  No  attempt  is  made  at  an  elaborate  descrip- 
tion of  the  soils  of  the  valley.  For  further  study  of  these  types  of 
soil,  see  Survey  of  Salem  Area,  Bureau  of  Soils. 

There  are  two  types  of  soils  in  the  Willamette  Vallejr  upon  which 
practically  all  of  the  clover  is  grown.  The  first,  a  reddish  yellow 
clay,  usually  underlaid  to  about  3  feet  by  a  clay  of  the  same  color, 
occupies  the  rolling  hills  of  the  valley.  This  type  of  soil  is  well 
drained,  and  level  areas  are  very  rarely  found.  It  is  well  adapted  to 
the  growth  of  red  clover.  The  second,  a  light  brown  to  black  loam, 
occupies  the  level  prairie  areas.  It  usually  extends  a  short  distance  up 
the  slopes  of  the  hills,  the  topography  being  either  level  or  very  gently 
rolling.  The  level  areas  have  very  poor  drainage,  and  water  stands 
on  the  surface  of  the  ground  during  much  of  the  long  wet  season. 
When  the  surface  soil  of  these  low  areas  becomes  dry  during  the 
annual  summer  drought  it  assumes  a  very  light  color,  and  for  this 
reason  it  is  locally  known  as  "white  land.'*  This  soil  is  poorly 
adapted  to  red  clover,  because  the  seed  crop  does  not  fill  well. 

Where  this  light-brown  to  black  loam  type  is  slightly  rolling,  the 
sui  face  of  the  higher  areas  has  a  very  much  darker  color  than  the 
white  land.  A  foot  of"  elevation  may  completely  change  the  color  of 
the  soil.  Because  wheat  will  fill  on  this  dark  soil  and  not  on  the 
white  land  it  is  often  spoken  of  as  "  wheat  land."'  Where  these  two 
soils  occur  together  in  irregular  areas  they  are  often  spoken  of  as 
"  mixed  land."  The  dark-colored  wheat  land  is  adapted  to  both  red 
and  alsike  clover. 

Farmers  usually  grow  red  clover  in  preference  to  alsike  where  it 
is  possible  to  do  so.  Alsike  will  grow,  however,  under  much  wetter 
conditions  than  red  clover.  For  this  reason  red  clover  is  grown  on 
the  hilly  clay  soil  and  on  the  dark  wheat  land  of  the  brown  to  black 

[Cir.  28] 


CLOVEB   SEED    PRODUCTION    IN    WILLAMETTE    VALLEY.  5 

loam  type,  while  alsike  occupies  the  white  land  and  much  of  the 
mixed  land.  In  addition  to  this,  alsike  is  grown  on  the  overflow 
land  along  some  of  the  water  courses  where  it  is  too  wet  for  red 
clover. 

THE   SEED   YIELD   OF   RED    CLOVER. 

'The  usual  yield  of  red  clover  i-  from  I  to  6  bushels  of  seed  per  acre. 
When  grown  on  poor  soil  and  under  unfavorable  conditions,  the  yield 
may  he  Less  than  this,  w  bile  on  the  best  of  soils  with  a  favorable  season 
the  \  ield  may  run  as  high  a-  7.  8,  or  9  bushels  per  acre.  When  grown 
on  the  Mime  kind  of  soil,  alsike  is  Said  to  yield  a  little  better  than  red 
clover.  On  the  pooresl  soil,  the  white  land,  where  red  clover  israrely 
planted,  alsike  yields  from  2  to  -\  bushels  per  acre;  on  the  mixed 
land  from  3  to  5  bushels;  and  on  the  dark,  waxy  overflow  land  along 

the  South  Yamhill  River  from  6  to  L6  bushels.     Mr.  Horace  W I. 

who  owns  a  farm  and  run-  a  huller  in  Yamhill  County,  report-  the 
hulling  of  5  acres  of  alsike  on  t he  bottom  land  of  the  South  Yamhill 
River  that  yielded  80  bushels,  or  16  bushel-  per  acre.  On  his  own 
farm  the  yield-  have  been  from  6  to  L2  bu-hels  per  acre.  Large 
yields  like  these,  however,  must  be  expected  only  under  the  most 
favorable  condit  ions. 

MEANS  OF  SECURING  A  STAND  OF  RED  CLOVER. 

There  are  so  many  different  soil  conditions  in  the  Willamette 
Valley  that  no  one  way  of  sowing  clover  can  be  said  to  be  most  suc- 
cessful. A-  a  ie-ult  of  poor  drainage  and  \  ears  of  continuous  growth 
of  the  cereal  crop-  the  physical  condition  of  some  of  the  soil-  is  very 
poor.  Before  attempting  to  -tart  clover  on  such  land  vetch  is  often 
grown  for  aboul  two  seasons.  Vetch  materially  improves  the  physical 
condition  of  the  -oil  and  build-  it  up  in  nitrogen.  Following  vetch, 
clover  can  ii-uall\  be  .-tailed  without  much  difficulty.  The  -white 
land  is  poorly  drained  and  especially  deficient  in  humus.  What  it 
need-  is  (1)  tile  drainage  and  ( •_' )  liberal  application-  of  barnyard 
manure.  Where  this  is  impossible  very  satisfactory  results  are 
usually  secured  by  throwing  the  land  into  ridges.  Tin-  i-  done  h\ 
plowing  in  lands  by  the  backfurrow  and  dead-furrow  system.  The 
dead  furrow-  are  left  open  to  i-.wv\  oil'  the  surface  water.  With  the 
land  ridged  in  this  way  alsike  clover  doe-  fairly  well. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  mean-  used  in  start  ing  clover. 

Clover  aloru  or  with  rape.—i  )n  the  white  land,  the  mixed  land,  and 
in  fact  on  almosl  all  classes  of  -oil-,  sowing  clover  with  rape  in  the 
late  spring — late  in  May  or  early  in  dune — i-  very  successful  and 
popular.  Some  prefer  to  SOW  the  clover  alone.  When  this  method  i- 
employed  the  white  land  i-  plowed  in  the  early  spring  a-  soon  as  it  is 
[Clr.  28] 


()        CLOVER  SEED  PRODUCTION  IN  WILLAMETTE  VALLEY. 

in  good  working  condition.  If  plowed  in  the  fall  it  usually  runs  to- 
gether and  becomes  so  hard  during  the  winter  that  it  is  necessary  to 
replow  in  the  spring.  The  darker,  better  soils  are  plowed  any  time 
during  the  winter  when  not  too  wet.  The  soil  is  worked  up  in  the 
early  spring  and  kept  well  cultivated  until  seeding  time  to  hold  the, 
moisture,  destroy  weeds,  and  preserve  the  proper  tilth.  The  white 
land  is  usually  sown  a  little  later  than  the  better  drained  soils,  be- 
cause the  late  spring  rains  that  come  after  seeding  might  be  sufficient 
to  cause  the  soil  to  run  together. 

From  H  to  3  pounds  of  rape  and  5  pound-  of  alsike  or  8  to  10 
pounds  of  red  clover  per  acre  are  sown  broadcast  the  last  of  May  or 
early  in  June.  It  is  better  to  have  the  rape  too  thin  than  too  thick, 
for  when  thick  it  makes  but  little  growth.  The  seed  i<  usually  cov- 
ered with  a  harrow.  When  the  rape  is  from  8  to  12  inches  high  it  is 
pastured  with  sheep  or  swine.  During  the  late  fall  or  next  spring  the 
field  may  be  pastured  closely  to  kill  the  rape.  If  rape  is  eaten  oil'  very 
closely  to  the  ground  it  usually  dies. 

Clover  sown  alone  mi  stubble  html  in  flic  early  fall. — This  method 
of  sowing  clover  i-  becoming  quite  popular.  Land  that  is  plowed 
a  little  late  in  the  spring  gives  better  results  than  land  that  is  plowed 
early.  The  sj^ring  rains  pack  the  early  plowed  land  too  much.  Some 
farmers  harrow  to  cover  the  seed,  while  others  do  not.  If  the  seed 
ing  is  done  early  in  September,  so  that  the  young  plants  will  have 
time  to  make  considerable  growth  before  the  beginning  of  winter, 
excellent  stands  are  usually  secured.  The  stubble  gives  considerable 
protection  during  the  winter  and  the  ground  does  not  heave  so  much 
as  it  would  were  it  bare  and  worked  up  fine.  Clover  sown  in  the 
stubble  in  this  way  makes  a  fair  crop  the  next  season  if  it  is  given  a 
good  application  of  land  plaster  in  the  early  spring. 

Clover  sown  with  spring  grain. — On  rich  land  that  is  in  good  con- 
dition or  that  has  successfully  produced  clover,  very  good  results 
are  secured  by  sowing  clover  in  the  early  spring  with  oats  or  wheat. 
From  30  to  40  pounds  of  land  plaster  to  the  acre  applied  to  the  surface 
of  the  ground  at  seeding  time  or  after  the  young  clover  has  leaved 
out  stimulates  the  clover  and  makes  the  stand  more  certain.  Clover 
is  also  frequently  sowm  in  February  or  March  on  winter  wheat. 
Some  of  the  clover  growers  who  practice  this  method  cut  the  grain 
crop  just  as  high  as  possible  in  order  to  leave  plenty  of  stubble. 
After  the  grain  crop  is  removed  from  the  field  the  stubble  is  mowed 
and  left  on  the  ground  until  spring,  when  it  is  removed.  The  stubble 
protects  the  clover  from  the  sun  during  the  latter  portion  of  the 
summer  and  lessens  the  heaving  of  (he  ground  during  the  winter.  It' 
a  full  stand  is  not  secured  from  the  spring  seeding,  more  seed  can 
lie  -own  in  the  stubble  in  the  Call. 
[Cir.  28] 


CLOVEE    SEED    PRODUt    lh>\    IN    WILLAMETTE    VALLEY.  i 

Sumrrii  r  fallowing.  To  gel  a  stand  of  clover  on  land  that  lias  had 
its  productiveness  greatly  reduced  by  years  of  continuous  production 
of  wheal  and  oats,  that  is  full  of  sorrel,  French  pink,  and  other 
weeds,  and  thai  has  never  grow  n  clover,  some  farmers  resorl  to  sum 
mer  fallowing.  The  objects  in  summer  fallowing  are  to  i\>\  the  soil  of 
weeds,  to  keep  it  in  a  moist,  mellow  condition,  so  thai  there  will  be 
more  active  bacterial  action  in  the  soil,  and  to  make  more  planl  food 
available  with  winch  to  -tart  the  crop.  In  summer  fallowing  th>' 
ground  is  kept  thoroughly  cultivated  all  summer.  After  destroying 
the  weed-  that  -tart  in  the  fall  a  full  crop  of  winter  wheal  or  winter 
oats  i-  sown  with  the  disk  drill.  In  some  instances  the  drill  will 
destroy  the  weeds  without  other  cultivation.  From  8  to  LO  pounds 
of  tvd  clover  <>r  •">  pounds  of  alsike  per  acre  are  -own  on  the  surface 
of  the  ground  just  a-  the  drill  leaves  it.  [nstead  of  sowing  with 
wheat  or  oat-  the  clover  i-  sometimes  -own  with  a  bushel  of  vetch 
-nd  per  acre.  The  vetch  crop  i>  used  lor  hay.  Clover  i-  sometimes 
-own  alone  in  the  early  fall  on  land  that  ha-  been  Slimmer  fallowed. 
If  a  poor -tand  results  from  sowing  alone  or  with  grain  in  the  early 
fall  more  seed  may  he  -own  in  the  early  spring,  during  February  or 
March. 

None  of  these  method-  of  sowing  clover  can  he  -aid  to  he  entirely 
successful  under  all  conditions.  Thej  may  all  fail  at  time-.  The  one 
to  use  i-  tin.'  one  that  most  nearly  meets  the  need-  of  the  individual 
farmer,  that  is,  that  -nits  the  condition  of  his  soil  and  permits  him  to 
gel  bis  land  into  clover  most  quickrj   or  at  the  lime  he  wants  it. 

CROP  ROTATIONS  PRACTICED  BY  GROWERS  OF  CLOVER. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  rotations  used  by  the  clover  growers 
in  the  Willamette  Valley : 

c  BOP    ROTATION    1. 

First  year.— Clover,  sown  with  rape  or  alone  in  the  spring,     t'sed  for  pasture 
the  first  summer  and  fall. 
Second  year.-  -Clover,  used  for  pasture,  bay,  or  seed. 
Third  year.     Clover,  used  for  pasture,  bay,  or  seed. 
Fourth  year. — Wheat  or  oats,  with  clover  sown  in  the  grain. 

<  Kiir    ROT  \l  [ON    2. 

First  year. — Cultivated  crop,  corn  or  potatoes. 
Second  j/ear.— Wheal  or  oats,  with  clover  sown  in  the  grain. 
1 1, n, i  year. — Clover,  used  for  pasture,  bay,  or  seed. 
Fourth  year.     Clover,  used  for  pasture,  bay,  or  seed. 

CROP    ROTATION    •'!. 

!  year. — Oats.     Clover  sod  plowed  and  sown  to  oats  in  the  spring. 
Second  year. — Vetch.     Oal  stubble  disked  In  fall  and  sown  t<>  vetcb. 
Third  year. — Wheat   and  clover.     Vetcb  stubble  disked  in   fall  and  sown  to 
w  heal  and  clover. 
[CIr.  28] 


8       CLOVER  SEED  PRODUCTION  IK  WILLAMETTE  VALLEY. 

Fourth  year. — Clover,  used  for  pasture,  hay,  or  seed. 

Fifth  year. — Clover,  used  for  pasture,  hay,  or  seed. 

Sixth  year. — Clover.  If  the  stand  is  poor  at  the  end  of  the  fifth  year,  the 
clover  is  plowed  up  and  oats  sown  again. 

In  this  rotation  it  will  be  seen  that  the  land  is  plowed  but  once  in  five 
or  six  years.     This  rotation  is  not  in  general  use. 

In  actual  practice  these  rotations  are  modified  to  meet  the  existing 
conditions  which  control  the  length  of  time  that  clover  will  produce 
profitably.  In  some  instances  it  lasts  but  one  season  on  account  of 
the  ravages  of  the  clover  root-borer.  English  plantain,  or  rib-grass, 
is  a  serious  weed  Avhere  clover  occupies  the  land  for  a  number  of 
years.  About  the  only  way  to  keep  it  under  control  is  to  leave  the 
clover  down  for  about  two  years  and  then  raise  other  crops  for  at 
least  that  length  of  time.  Where  these  pests  are  not  serious  some 
farmers  have  been  able  to  use  their  clover  for  five  or  six  years  by 
sowing  a  little  seed  on  the  clover  sod  in  the  early  fall  of  each  year  to 
thicken  it  up. 

PASTURING  AND  CLIPPING  CLOVER. 

Experience  has  taught  the  clover-seed  producers  that  the  first 
crop,  especially  that  of  red  clover,  yields  a  very  small  quantity  of 
seed  if  allowed  to  mature  naturally.  If  the  first  crop  is  used  for  hay, 
the  dry  season  usually  cuts  the  second  crop  so  short  that  it  amounts 
to  very  little  for  seed.  For  this  reason  it  has  become  almost  a 
universal  practice  to  retard  the  development  of  the  first  crop  by 
pasturing  it  in  the  spring.  All  classes  of  stock  are  used  for  this 
purpose,  but  sheep  are  preferable  because  they  eat  sorrel  and  many 
other  weeds  that  most  animals  leave. 

If  it  is  impossible  to  pasture  the  clover,  or  if  there  are  not 
enough  stock  to  eat  it  off  closely,  it  is  clipped  with  a  mower.  The 
sickle  bar  of  the  mower  is  set  to  run  low  in  order  to  get  any  sorrel 
that  may  have  gone  to  seed,  and  the  clippings  are  left  on  the  ground. 
Even  if  the  clover  has  been  pastured  pretty  closely  there  are  usually 
areas  here  and  there  over  the  field  that  the  stock  have  left.  To  set 
these  areas  back  and  make  the  clover  come  on  evenly,  many  farmers 
make  a  practice  of  running  the  mower  over  the  field  after  removing 
(lie  stock. 

It  is  difficult  to  determine  just  how  late  in  the  spring  to  pasture  or 
clip  clover  in  order  to  get  the  heaviest  yield  of  seed.  In  practice  this 
date  varies  among  the  different  seed  growers  from  May  1  to  June  20. 
The  season  has  considerable  to  do  with  it.  If  the  spring  is  backward 
and  wet.  the  clover  is  pastured  a  little  later  than  usual.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  the  spring  opens  up  early  and  the  ground  begins  to  dry  up, 
the  stock  are  removed  a  little  earlier.  Owing  to  the  impossibility 
of  knowing  what  kind  of  weather  is  to  prevail  during  the  latter  por- 

[Cir.  us] 


CLOVEB    SEED    PRODU<    CION    IN    WILLAMETTE    VALLEY. 


9 


t  ion  of  spring  after  the  stock  have  been  removed  or  the  field  clipped, 
the  decision  of  this  date  is  :i  matter  <>l'  chance. 

A  good  deal  also  depends  on  the  type  of  soil  upon  which  the  cl< 
is  grown.  Farmers  who  raise  clover  seed  on  the  poorer  soils,  the 
white  land  and  the  mixed  land,  usually  remove  their  stock  earlier 
than  those  on  the  better  types  of  soil,  where  the  stock  often  remain 
on  the  clover  until  June,  and  in  some  instances  as  hue  as  June  20. 
On  the  better,  well-drained  soils  the  growth  is  naturally  heavier,  and 
it  is  reasonable  to  assume  that  the  pasturing  should  be  continued  a 


Fig.    1       Field  showing  1 1 1 - ■  effect   ol    land  plaster  on  clover.     The  dark     trea  each 

Bide  show  the  heavy  growth  of  the  clover  where  the  plaster  was  applied.     On  tin 
streak  In  the  center  of  the  figure  where  no  plaster  was  applied  the  growth  i>r  clover  was 
\  <  rj    scant. 

little  later  than  on  the  poor  land.  A  heavy,  rank  growth  is  seldom 
well  filled.  For  a  seed  crop,  growers  usually  want  a  medium  growth 
that   stand-  up  well. 

THE  USE  OF  LAND  PLASTER  IN  GROWING  CLOVER. 


Land  plaster,  or  gypsum,  ha-  a  wonderfully  stimulating  effed 
upon  the  growth  of  clover  and  other  legumes  in  the  Willamette  Val- 
ley. (See  ti^'.  1.)  If  applied  a-  a  top-dressing  to  clover  sod  early 
enough  in  the  spring  to  be  dissolved  and  washed  into  the  -oil  by  the 

[Clr.  28] 


10      CLOVER  SEED  PRODUCTION  IN  WILLAMETTE  VALLEY. 

rain,  it  produces  a  healthy  green  color  and  materially  increases  the 
yield  of  both  hay  and  seed.  Untreated  clover,  on  the  other  hand, 
is  often  very  much  stunted,  yellowish,  and  sickly  looking.  The  moist, 
mild  climate  is  favorable  to  the  growth  of  grasses  and  sorrel  and 
other  weeds  which  have  a  strong  tendency  to  choke  out  the  clover 
when  no  plaster  is  used.  When  land  plaster  is  evenly  distributed  on 
clover  sod  in  the  early  spring,  the  clover  grows  vigorously  and  its 
ability  to  hold  the  weeds  and  grasses  in  check  is  increased. 

There  are  three  principal  reasons,  then,  for  using  plaster  in  clover- 
seed  production,  viz,  to  increase  the  yield  of  seed,  to  increase  the 
amount  of  pasturage,  and  to  hold  the  weeds  under  better  control. 
To  attain  these  ends  in  the  fullest  measure,  however,  it  is  essential 
that  the  plaster  be  applied  early  enough  in  the  spring  to  be  dissolved 
by  the  rain  and  that  it  be  evenly  distributed  over  the  surface  of  the 
entire  field. 

In  securing  a  stand  of  clover,  the  application  of  30  to  40  pounds  of 
land  plaster  to  the  acre  at  the  time  of  seeding  or  after  the  clover  is 
well  up  and  leaved  out  has  been  found  very  beneficial.  The  stimula- 
tion it  gives  enables  the  young  clover  to  withstand  the  summer 
drought  better  and  to  make  a  heavier  growth,  and  therefore  more 
pasturage,  in  the  fall. 

For  hay  where  a  full  crop  is  desired  the  amount  of  plaster  used 
varies  from  50  to  100  pounds  per  acre.  While  this  is  a  small  amount 
of  plaster  to  use,  even  less  is  used  for  a  seed  crop.  While  a  few 
farmers  apply  as  much  as  75  to  100  pounds  per  acre  for  a  seed  crop. 
from  30  to  -10  pounds  is  generally  considered  sufficient.  Heavy 
applications  usually  produce  too  much  straw.  The  plaster  is  usually 
applied  during  February,  March,  or  early  in  April.  One  very  success- 
ful seed  grower,  Mr.  Clarence  Koon,  of  Lane  County,  pastures  his 
clover  heavily  with  sheep  until  about  May  1  and  then  applies  100 
pounds  of  plaster  per  acre.  By  applying  the  plaster  at  this  time 
when  everything  is  eaten  off  closely,  he  thinks  the  clover  will  receive 
the  full  benefit  of  the  plaster,  grow  more  rapidly,  and  have  a  better 
chance  to  crowd  out  the  weeds.  For  methods  of  applying  land 
plaster  the  reader  is  referred  to  Circular  No.  22,  Bureau  of  Plant 
Industry,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 

HARVESTING  CLOVER  FOR  SEED. 

Clover  is  not  usually  cut  for  seed  until  it  is  fairly  ripe.  Most  seed 
growers  wait  until  practically  all  of  the  heads  have  turned  a  dead 
brown  color,  but  not  until  they  have  begun  to  fall  to  pieces.  If  cut 
a  little  green  the  heads  do  not  ripen  properly  and  much  of  the  seed 
is  shriveled  and  light.  When  the  crop  is  left  until  it  is  thoroughly 
ripe,  the  cutting  is  done  when  the  straw  is  damp  with  dew.  Heavy 
[Cir.  28] 


CLOVER    SEED    PRODUCTION    IN    WILLAMETTE    VALL] 


1  I 


dews  occur  almost  every  night,  which  afford  excellent  condition  for 
cutting.  The  cutting  is  done  in  the  late  evening  by  moonlight  and 
in  the  early  morning  until  about  9  o'clock. 

In  cutting,  the  mower  with  the  side-delivery  buncher  attached  is 
generally  used,  i  See  6g.  2.)  This  leaves  the  swath  in  bunches 
behind  the  machine  so  that  it  is  nol  trampled  on  by  the  horse  or 
run  over  by  the  wheel-  of  the  mower  in  cutting  the  next  swath. 
Sometimes  the  bunching  device,  which  i-  tripped  with  the  foot,  is 
not  used  and  the  attachment  to  the  sickle  bar  is  then  often  spoken 
of  as  the  "  swather  '"  because  it  turn-  the  swath  out  into  a  roll  behind 
the  machine.  When  cut  in  this  way  the  clover  is  usually  raked  into 
windrows  before  it  becomes  dry. 

The  self-rake  reaper  is  perhaps  the  most  satisfactory  machine  with 
which  to  cut  a  crop  of  seed  clover.  If  the  clover  stands  up  well  i: 
can  l>e  cut  much  higher  with  the  reaper  than  with  the  mower,  thereby 
leaving  more  of  the  straw  on  the  ground.     This  is  an  important  point, 


Fig. 


The  slde-dellverj  buncher.     Delivers  crop  to  one  side,  out  of  i!>>'  way  of  the  team 
and  machine  on  the  next  round. 


for  it  saves  a  great  deal  of  labor  in  bauling  and  hulling  the  crop.  I  f 
the  clover  has  lodged,  the  reaper  is  set  to  cut  as  low  as  possible.  The 
rakes  of  the  reaper  pull  the  fallen  clover  up  to  the  sickle  so  that  it 
is  cut  as  closely  with  the  reaper  as  with  the  mown-.  By  driving  the 
reaper  -lowly  the  bunches  are  dropped  with  the  heads  turned  up  and 
the  butts  down.  In  this  condition  the  seed  dries  out  nicely.  If  the 
driving  is  rapid,  on  the  other  hand,  the  butts  of  the  hunches  will  be 
thrown  up  and  the  heads  underneath. 

The  bunches  from  the  reaper  are  dropped  in  row-  across  the  field, 
where  they  remain  undisturbed  until  hauled  to  the  huller.  In  haul- 
ing the  clover  to  the  machine  a  hunch  is  picked  up  at  one  forkful 
with  a  large  four-tined  fork  with  very  little  shattering.  When  the 
clover  is  cut  with  the  mower,  raked  into  windrows,  and  hauled  from 
the  windrow  to  the  huller.  considerable  seed  is  lost  from  shattering. 
The  windrow  is  usually  rolled  up  into  bunches  in  order  to  get  the 
proper  sized  forkful-,  and  this  shatters  out  much  of  the  seed.     I  lay 

[Clr.  28] 


12       CLOVER  SEED  PRODUCTION  IN  WILLAMETTE  VALLEY. 

lacks  used  in  hauling  clover  to  the  huller  should  always  be  covered 
with  canvas  or  provided  with  tight  bottoms,  for  a  great  deal  of  seed 
is  lost  when  hauled  in  open  racks. 

If  the  weather  is  favorable  clover  is  ready  to  hull  in  six  or  eight 
days  after  it  is  cut.  Practically  all  of  the  clover  seed  produced  in 
the  valley  is  hauled  from  the  field  as  it  is  hulled.  Stacking  is  said 
to  be  unsatisfactory.  As  previously  stated,  dews  are  heavy  and  the 
hullers  can  not  usually  run  until  9  or  10  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
Light  showers  on  the  clover  as  it  lies  in  the  field  are  said  to  be 
beneficial  in  that  they  make  the  hulling  easier.  Heavy  showers  and 
protracted  rains  may  necessitate  turning  the  bunches  or  windrows 
over  to  dry  them  out.  If  this  is  not  done  some  of  the  seed  will 
sprout. 

TREATING    CLOVER    SEED    AFFECTED    WITH    HONEY    DEW. 

Honey  dew  is  a  sticky  substance  secreted  by  plant  lice  which  some- 
times work  on  clover.  When  clover  seed  is  affected  with  honey  dew 
it  is  first  run  through  a  fanning  mill  or  other  cleaner  to  remove  the 
seed  that  is  not  stuck  together.  That  which  is  stuck  together  goes 
over  the  riddles  with  the  coarse  trash.  This  seed,  together  with  the 
trash,  is  put  into  water  to  dissolve  the  honey  dew,  which  requires  a 
very  short  time.  The  water  is  then  drained  off  and  the  seed  and 
trash  spread  out  on  a  canvas  or  floor  to  dry.  After  it  is  dry  it  is 
run  through  the  cleaner  again. 

INSECT  PESTS  OF  RED  CLOVER. 

For  information  regarding  the  insect  enemies  of  red  clover  the 
reader  is  referred  to  circulars  of  the  Bureau  of  Entomology,  No.  (17, 
entitled  "The  Clover  Root  Borer,"  and  No.  69,  entitled  "Some 
Insects  Affecting  the  Production  of  Red  Clover  Seed."  These  cir- 
culars may  be  obtained  free  of  charge  b}'  addressing  the  United  States 
Department  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 

HOW     CLOVER-SEED     PRODUCTION     AND     LIVE     STOCK     IMPROVE 

THE   SOIL. 

The  system  of  growing  clover  seed  in  connection  with  live-stock 
production  practiced  in  the  Willamette  Valley  is  very  beneficial  to 
the  soil.  As  soon  as  the  seed  crop  is  removed  the  field  is  used  for 
pasture,  except  when  the  ground  is  too  wet,  until  the  following  May 
or  June.  The  total  time  that  the  land  is  used  for  pasture  varies 
from  six  to  nine  months.  The  manure  that  accumulates  during  the 
winter  and  the  droppings  from  the  animals  when  pasturing  add  no 
small  amount  of  humus  and  plant  food  to  the  soil. 
I  Cir.  28] 


CLOVEB    SEED    PRODUCTION    IN    WILLAMETTE    VALLEY.  L3 

( Hover  occupies  the  land  for  two  or  more  years.  During  this  time 
the  roots  penetrate  the  soil  to  a  considerable  depth.  When  I 
rout-  decay  channels  arc  lefl  leading  down  into  the  soil  below. 
These  channels  permit  the  air  and  rain  water  to  penetrate  the  soil 
more  freely.  Being  a  leguminous  crop,  clover  adds  more  nitrogen 
to  the  sod  than  the  crop  removes.  The  stubble  and  other  waste 
materia]  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  together  with  the  roots,  add 
a  large  amount  of  vegetable  matter  to  the  soil  when  the  sod  is  plowed. 

The  following  results  secured  bj  farmers  who  grow  clover  and 
pasture  it  with  sheep  and  other  live  stock  illustrate  how  this  type 
of  farming  increases  the  productiveness  of  the  soil.    The  data  are 

inc plete   and    do    nol    -how    conclusively   that    the    increased    yields 

are  wholly  due  to  the  clover  and  live  stock.  Other  factor-  may  have 
exerted  an  influence.  However,  the  beneficial  effect  of  this  type  of 
farming  on  the  texture  and  productiveness  of  the  soil  is  too  well 
established  to  need  further  comment. 

The  experience  of  Mr.  C.  R.  Widmer,  of  Benton  County,  Oreg.,  is 
summarized  as  follow-: 

L904.  Winter  wheat.     Red  clover  sown  in  the  wheat  February  or  March,  1905. 

1905.  Wheat.     Yield,  T  bushels  per  acre.    Clover  made  a  good  stand. 

1906.  Clover,     field  of  sen],  :>  bushels  per  acre. 

1907.  Clover.    Clipped  too  late.     Yield,  i  bushel  of  seed  per  acre. 

1908.  Oats.  Land  plowed  in  fall  and  sewn  in  spring.  Yield,  To  bushels  per 
acre. 

Mr.  William  Goffrier,  until  lately  of  Yamhill  County.  Oreg.,  ro- 
tated clover  on  two  fields  of  60  and  40  acres,  respectively,  with  the 
following  results: 

L901.  When.  Red  clover  sown  in  the  wheat  in  February.-  Yield.  18  bushels 
per  acre. 

L902.  Clover,  rield  of  seed,  7  bushels  per  acre. 

L903.  Clover.  Yield  of  seed.  6  bushels  per  acre. 

L904.  cievei-.  Yield  of  seed,  I  bushels  per  acre. 

1905.  Oats.     Yield,  v"  bushels  per  .-err. 

1906.  Wheal,  rield,  30  bushels  per  acre.     Clover  was  sown  with  the  wheat. 

1907.  ('lexer,  rield  of  seed,   t  bushels  per  acre. 

1903.  Wheal,     field,  IT  bushels  per  acre.     Red  clover  sewn  in  wheat. 

1904.  Clover.     Yield  of  seed,  6  bushels  per  acre. 

1905.  Clover,     rield  of  seed,  6^  bushels  per  acre. 

1906.  Oats.     Field,  65  bushels  per  acre. 

1907.  Wheal,     rield,  27  bushels  per  acre. 

Mr.  Henry  Zimmerman,  of  Linn  County.  Oreg.,  rotated  alsike 
clover  on  a  1  l-aoiv  field  of  "  mixed  land."  The  record  of  the  vields 
follow  -  : 

1906.  Alsike  clover.    Sown  alone  In  .lime.     Pastured  late  summer  and  fall. 

1907.  Alsike   clever.       Yield    of    seed,    .V    bushels    pel'    aero.       Plowed    Up    ill    fall 

of  1907. 
[Clr.  28] 


14      CLOVER  SEED  PRODUCTION  IN  WILLAMETTE  VALLEY. 

1908.  Oats.  Yield,  38  bushels  per  acre.  A  field  of  oats  just  across  the  fence 
made  25  bushels  per  acre  on  the  same  kind  of  land  which  bad  never  been  in 
clover. 

Under  date  of  November  30,  1(.>08,  Mr.  Zimmerman  writes: 

I  am  plowing  a  piece  of  land  that  had  been  seeded  to  clover  a  second  time.  It 
is  astonishing  how  much  more  mellow  and  light  the  ground  now  is  than  it  was 
when  plowed  after  the  first  seeding. 

SUMMARY. 

(1)  The  productiveness  of  much  of  the  soil  of  the  "Willamette 
Valley  has  become  so  impaired  by  the  continual  growth  of  wheat  and 
oats  that  the  exclusive  production  of  these  crops  is  unprofitable. 

(2)  It  has  been  found  that  clover-seed  production  on  these  soils  is 
not  only  profitable,  but  that  it  increases  their  productiveness  very  ma- 
terially as   well. 

(3)  Red  clover  is  grown  on  the  better,  well-drained  soils,  and  alsike 
clover  on  those  that  are  low  and  poorly  drained. 

(4)  The  average  yield  of  red  clover  seed  is  from  4  to  G  bushels  per 
acre.  When  grown  under  similar  conditions  alsike  clover  yields  a 
little  more  than  this. 

(5)  Stands  of  clover  are  secured  by  sowing  it  (1)  alone  or  with 
rape  during  May  and  June;  (2)  alone  in  the  stubble  in  the  early  fall ; 
(3)  in  February,  March,  or  April  with  spring  grain  or  in  winter 
wheat;  and  (4)  after  summer  fallowing. 

(f>)  In  the  rotation  clover  occupies  the  land  as  long  as  the  stand  is 
good.  On  account  of  the  clover  root-borer  and  of  sorrel,  plantain, 
and  other  weeds,  clover  is  not  usually  a  profitable  crop  for  more  than 
two  or  three  years. 

(7)  If  allowed  to  mature  naturally,  neither  the  first  nor  the  second 
crop  of  red  clover  is  profitable  for  seed.  The  best  yields  of  seed  are 
obtained  by  retarding  the  growth  of  the  first  crop  by  pasturing  or 
clipping. 

(8)  Light  applications  of  land  plaster  to  clover  sod  increase  the 
yield  of  both  hay  and  seed.  For  a  seed  crop  the  amount  applied  per 
acre  varies  from  30  to  100  pounds.  From  30  to  40  pounds  per  acre 
is  the  usual  quantity  used. 

(9)  Clover  is  cut  for  seed  when  practically  all  of  the  heads  have 
turned  a  dead  brown  color,  but  before  they  have  begun  to  fall  to 
pieces.  The  mower  with  the  side-delivery  buncher  attached  is  gen- 
erally used  in  cutting.  The  self-rake  reaper  is  used  by  some  and  is 
considered  more  efficient  for  this  purpose. 

(10)  Clover  svvd  that  is  stuck  together  with  honey  dew  is  suc- 
cessfully  separated  by  washing  it  in  water  to  dissolve  the  dew.  After 
washing,  it  is  dried  and  cleaned  in  the  ordinary  way. 

[Cir.  28] 


CLOVER    SEED    PRODU<    llu.N    in    WILLAM1   ill     VALLEY.  !  ."> 

(lli  Farmers  have  found  thai  their  land  yields  much  larger 
crops  of  wheat  and  oats  after  it  has  been  in  clover  for  two  <>r  more 
years.  Tin  \  also  find  thai  the  texture  of  the  soil  is  much  improved, 
tlic  soi  1  being  looser  and  more  mellow. 

A  |i|  >n>\  t'd  : 

Jami  s  VVilsi  in, 

,i  tary  of  .  [yricultun  . 

Washington,  I  >.  ('..  March   15,  1909. 

[Clr.  28] 

O 


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